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November 13, 2010

Nearly a decade ago, many industry analysts warned that IT degrees would not be worth as much as they had been during the unprecedented dot-com bubble. Well, it seems that they were wrong. So many IT firms (not just the biggies like Google and Apple) are in the process of expanding company operations and purchasing new offices for new hires. Companies in virtually every industry sector are in need of IT professionals and are luring them with competitive salaries and bonuses. Many of the big-name companies are bringing IT services in-house while smaller firms are relying on outsourced providers more heavily. Regardless of the size of the company, almost all of them are in need of IT professionals.

Based on government statistics and industry averages, there are trends that show the following 10 jobs to be the most promising and in-demand for companies over the next 10 years:

1. Information Systems Manager. The primary roles and responsibilities for this position does vary based on employer, however IS Managers are in charge of determining the “big-picture” technology strategies for firms. These individuals must combine their educational/computer training with business savvy and make decisions about things such as servers, bandwidth, and desktop tools for their respective companies.

2. Database Administrator. DBAs are in charge of ensuring the security and accessibility of information for customers/clients/employees. They design, implement, and maintain any given organization’s database. These requirements are very in-demand, primarily because of the difficulty to fill them.

3. Operating System Developer. It is somewhat of a myth that very few companies would hire or require “operating systems” managers, however, they are now needed for more devices apart from just PC’s. Manufacturers of automobiles, cellphones and refrigerators are truly reliant on skilled graduates of IT degrees to develop custom software platforms. So, the next time you drop a coin into a fancy-looking soda machine, you should remember that machines as simple as this could need operating systems too!

4. Application Developer. It is undeniable, that one of the most exciting fields for recent grads in Computer Science degree programs, from the employee-side is to build applications. Sometimes they could be working for large companies, or even working for third-parties on a contractual basis.

5. Computer Systems Analyst. Computer systems analysts essentially would work closely with information systems managers. These individuals would focus on digging deeper into the kinds of tools that companies use to solve their computing challenges.

6. Computer Systems Designer. Many computer systems designers spend their time focused exclusively on a single function or on a particular section of a larger software project.7. Data Processing Specialist. While managers and administrators provide platforms for company data, teams of specialists would ultimately assure the accuracy of that data. In large organizations such as banks and high-transactional brokerage firms, skilled data processing specialists would handle complex tasks like backups or data transfer.

8. Web Hosting Technician. A decade ago, it probably might not have seemed very probable that web hosting would be as universal and as reliable as electricity or running water. There are so many companies and individuals that rely on their online promotional sites, applications, and photo libraries and it truly is important to have solid web hosting technicians.

9. Computer Support Specialist. Microsoft was once famous for its vision statement, "a computer on every desk." Now that we have mostly realized that dream, computer users require an unprecedented amount of technical support which these Specialists would provide.

10. Desktop Publisher. Not every hot technology career requires a bachelor’s degree. Many small companies rely on print shops and commercial printers to give their material a professional polish. Larger companies rely on staff members with computer training to produce internal documents like reports or employee handbooks.